Nozzle

ABSTRACT

A shark fin like shaped nozzle for an intranasal dispenser is disclosed. The nozzle has a tear drop or lozenge shaped section through its (in use) horizontal plane and a generally rearwardly directed vent for dispensing medicament directly into an inner nasal space of a user. A cap is attached to the front of the nozzle by a hinge for enclosing the nozzle and for preventing the incorrect application of the nozzle into a nostril.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a nozzle for an intranasal dispenser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Intranasal dispensers are well known for dispensing liquid, gas orpowdered medicaments to a patient or user via the user's nostril.Dispensers generally comprise a bottle having a nozzle on a cap of thebottle. The nozzles, therefore, are generally provided at the top of thedispensers. Nozzles generally comprise a generally cylindrical tube. Thebottle can be squeezed to dispense a measure or dose of the contents ofthe bottle through the nozzle. Alternatively, the dispenser may have apump or valve to dispense through the nozzle.

The nozzle, which will be inserted into a nostril, will therefore guidethe medicament into the nasal passage and ultimately, perhaps byinhaling, into the inner nasal space.

FIG. 1 shows a typical, generally cylindrical, nozzle 1 of a prior artintranasal dispenser. The nozzle 1 has a vent 3 at the top of it todirect medicament in an axial direction 5 relative to the nozzle 1 whendispensing the medicament.

In use, the nozzle 1 is inserted into a nostril so that the medicamentto be dispensed can be directed into the nose and delivered into theinner nasal space behind the nose.

FIG. 2 shows the inner nasal space 6 of a typical human user to whichaccess is gained through the nostrils 7 in the nose 8. Ideally,administered medicament should be dispensed deep into the inner nasalspace (i.e. towards the rear or left-hand side as viewed in FIG. 2), andpreferably onto the nasal fossae (not shown). However, users commonlyhave a natural phobia against inserting a nozzle deep into the nose.

As an example, FIG. 3A shows how the prior art nozzle 1 of FIG. 1 wouldneed to be angled backwards in the nostril 7 of a human user so that thedispensing path 5 is oriented optimally towards the back of the innernasal space 6. However, studies have shown that this orientation of thenozzle 1 is unpleasant for the user. Accordingly, the user will directthe nozzle 1 as shown in FIG. 3B, resulting in the medicament beingdispensed upwardly into the front region of the inner nasal space 6.

Therefore, the nozzle 1 of the prior art is inherently non-optimal sinceto dispense the medicament correctly, a user will need to face his orher phobia or will need to inhale sharply. Inhaling sharply, however,can cause sneezing, thereby expelling the administered medicament.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a new nozzle design forintranasal dispensers that will provide a more efficient dispensing of amedicament into the inner nasal space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a nozzle for an intranasal dispenserhaving a generally shark fin like shape, i.e. like a dorsal fin. Thisshape allows the nozzle to fit accurately within a nostril and preventsthe nozzle from being inserted too deeply into the nostril.

The present invention also provides a nozzle for an intranasal dispenserhaving an elongated shape in transverse section, i.e. through its, inuse, horizontal plane. Whereas prior art nozzles are generallycylindrical in transverse cross-section, FIGS. 4 to 4D show that human(and other animal) nostrils 7 are generally elongated in transversecross section. The section of the present invention, therefore,correctly fits and orientates itself in a nostril.

The present invention also provides a nozzle for an intranasal dispenserhaving a vent for dispensing medicament therefrom directed non-parallelto the longitudinal axis of the nozzle. Preferably, this orientation ofthe vent is combined with providing the nozzle with the elongated shapeand/or the shark fin shape. Preferably the orientation is such that thevent's axis extends in the plane of symmetry of the nozzle, orrearwardly relative to the nostril into which the nozzle will, in use,be inserted. Orienting the nozzle in this manner results in a medicamentbeing dispensed directly towards the inner nasal space.

Preferably the nozzle is fitted to an intranasal dispenser. Preferablythe intranasal dispenser has a cap thereon for enclosing the nozzle.

The present invention further provides an intranasal dispenser having anozzle according to the invention.

The present invention also provides an intranasal dispenser comprising anozzle having a vent angled in a first direction relative to thelongitudinal axis of the nozzle and a cap for the nozzle hinged relativeto the nozzle to open away from that first direction.

Further preferred features of the present invention are set forth in theclaims appended hereto, as well as in the non-limiting exemplaryembodiments of the invention which will now be described with referenceto the accompanying Figures of drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a prior art nozzle design;

FIG. 2 shows a vertical section through a nose and inner nasal spacetaken perpendicular to a face of a human subject;

FIG. 3A shows a use of the prior art nozzle that would be deemedunpleasant by a human user;

FIG. 3B shows a use of the prior art nozzle that would be deemedacceptable by a user;

FIG. 4 shows a partial section through a pair of human nostrils viewedfrom below;

FIGS. 4A to 4D show various further horizontal sections of humannostrils;

FIG. 5 shows a first nozzle of the present invention on an intranasaldispenser;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second nozzle of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the second nozzle showing it dispensing with acloud dispersal pattern;

FIG. 7A is a plan view of the second nozzle;

FIG. 8 shows the second nozzle of the present invention modified todispense with a jet dispersal pattern;

FIG. 9 shows a rear perspective view of the second nozzle; and

FIG. 10 is scrap, longitudinal cross-sectional view of the secondnozzle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF DRAWINGS

In the following description like features of the different embodimentsare assigned like reference numerals.

In FIG. 5 there is shown a first nozzle 10 according to the presentinvention. The nozzle 10 has, in longitudinal cross section, a generallyshark fin like shape. In transverse cross section, the nozzle 10 has agenerally tear drop or lozenge like shape corresponding generally withthe shape of a nostril in transverse section, i.e. horizontal in use, asshown in FIG. 4A. This shape allows the nozzle 10 to be inserted into anostril only in a correct (and comfortable) orientation. This profile ofthe nozzle 10 will be further understood by reference to FIGS. 6-10which illustrate a second nozzle 110 of the invention of correspondinglongitudinal and transverse cross-sectional shape.

The tear drop section of the nozzle 10 has a long axis 34 (see FIG. 4A).The shark fin like shape has a longitudinal axis 30. The long axis 34and the longitudinal axis 30 lie within a plane of symmetry of thenozzle 10.

The nozzle 10 comprises a vent 14 through which medicament can bedispensed. The vent 14 has a medicament dispensing axis 28 that extendsgenerally rearwardly relative to a nostril into which the nozzle 10 willbe inserted. The dispensing axis 28 lies in the plane of symmetry of thenozzle 10. In this embodiment the dispensing axis 28 defines an angle αof about 70° relative to the longitudinal axis 30 of the nozzle 10 andgenerally towards the long axis 34. However, the angle α may be anywherefrom 100° to 55°.

The shark fin like shape of the nozzle 10 has a rear surface 16 thatextends substantially perpendicularly from a base 18 of the nozzle 10.The vent 14 is provided on this rear surface 16, towards a top or tip 19thereof.

The base 18 of the nozzle is adapted to fit onto a fluid container 20 orbottle of an intranasal dispenser 22 containing a fluid medicament,typically a liquid.

A convexly curved front surface 24 opposes the rear surface 16 of thenozzle 10. This front surface 24 arches from the tip 19 of the sharkfin, i.e. at or near the top of the rear surface 16 of the nozzle,forwardly and downwards therefrom towards a front 21 of the base 18. Thefront surface 24 of the nozzle, in use, will rest against the fleshy,internal surface of the nostril.

The sides of the nozzle 10, and any junctions between them, are alsoconvexly curved so that the nozzle 10 has a smooth finish; it should becomfortable when inserted into a nostril.

A cap 26 is attached to the base 18 of the nozzle 10 by a hinge 36,preferably a living hinge. The cap 26 can be folded over the nozzle 10to enclose the nozzle 10 when the intranasal dispenser 22 is not in use.Instead of a hinge 36, the cap 26 could be screw fitted onto the base 18of the nozzle 10 or it could be snap fitted thereover. Screw connectionsand snap fittable connections are well known in the art. However, thehinged connection has an advantage.

The hinge 36 is positioned adjacent the front 21 of the base 18, i.e.where the front surface 24 of the nozzle 10 joins the base 18.Positioning the hinge 36 here ensures that the cap 26, when folded intothe open position shown in FIG. 5, will not interfere with the insertionof the nozzle 10 into a nostril. Further, its position ensures thenozzle is inserted into the nostril at a correct orientation, i.e. notbackwards. The cap 26, clearly, must be positioned away from the face ofthe user in order for the nozzle 10 to be inserted into a nostril.

It will be appreciated from the above description that the orientationof the vent 14 is such as to dispense medicament from the dispenser 22rearwardly or away from the cap 26. Further, it will be appreciated thatthe dispensing is not parallel to the longitudinal axis 30 of thenozzle. Therefore, in use, medicament will be able to be dispensed bythe nozzle 10 directly towards the back of the inner nasal space,preferably at the nasal fossae, to optimise the effectiveness of themedicament.

In FIGS. 6-10 there is shown a second nozzle 110 of the presentinvention which corresponds to the first nozzle 10 other than not havingthe hinged cap 26. Thus, the second nozzle 110 has inter alia the samelongitudinal and transverse cross-sectional profiles as detailed for thenozzle 10 of FIG. 5, and the other common features will be self-evidentfrom the drawings and the like reference numerals. Moreover, the secondnozzle 110 is usable with the container 20 shown in FIG. 5 to form theintranasal dispenser 22.

In FIG. 7 the nozzle 110 is shown having a vent 114 having a clouddispersal pattern 132 falling generally within the range of angles givenabove for the first nozzle 10. FIG. 8 shows the nozzle 110 having a vent114 having a jet dispersal pattern 128 at an angle α of about 70°,although the previously disclosed angle range would apply equally forthe jet dispersal pattern 128. A person skilled in the art of nozzledesign will readily be able to provide either cloud or jet dispersalpatterns of these types.

FIG. 10 shows that the second nozzle 110 has a hollow interior 140 inwhich is formed a conduit structure 142 through which the medicament inthe container 20 is able to be discharged from the intranasal dispenser22 via the nozzle 110. More particularly, the conduit structure 142comprises a longitudinal section 144 and a transverse section 146extending between, and in fluid communication with, the longitudinalsection 144 and the vent 114. The longitudinal section 144 couples withthe outlet (not shown) of the container 20, which may be provided by apump or valve, as will be understood by the skilled reader in the art.

It will be understood that the embodiments of the present inventiondescribed above are purely by way of example, modifications andvariations being able to be made within the scope of the invention asdefined by the claims appended hereto.

The present application claims priority from UK patent application No. 0313 355.0 filed on 10 Jun. 2003, the entire content of which is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

1. A nozzle for an intranasal dispenser having a generally shark finlike shape.
 2. A nozzle for an intranasal dispenser having an elongatedshape in transverse section.
 3. The nozzle of claim 2 having a generallyshark fin like shape.
 4. A nozzle for an intranasal dispenser having avent for dispensing medicament therefrom directed non-parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the nozzle.
 5. The nozzle of claim 4 having agenerally shark fin like shape.
 6. The nozzle of claims 1 or 2, whereina vent for dispensing medicament therefrom is oriented such that thevent's axis extends generally rearward relative to the nostril intowhich the nozzle will, in use, be inserted.
 7. The nozzle of claims 1 or2, comprising a convex forward surface and a generally straight rearsurface, the rear surface having a vent therein for dispensingmedicament.
 8. The nozzle of claim 7, wherein the rear surface extendssubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle andperpendicular to a base of the nozzle.
 9. The nozzle of claim 7, whereinthe vent is adapted to dispense medicament at an angle of about 70°relative to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle and substantiallyrearward of the rear surface.
 10. (canceled)
 11. The nozzle of claims 1,2 or 4, having a cap for enclosing the nozzle.
 12. An intranasaldispenser having a nozzle according to claims 1, 2 or
 4. 13. Anintranasal dispenser comprising a nozzle having a vent angled in a firstdirection relative to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle or dispenserand a cap for the nozzle hinged relative to the nozzle to open away fromthat first direction.
 14. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the nozzleis in accordance with claims 1, 2 or
 4. 15. (canceled)
 16. (canceled)17. (canceled)